Steven B. Kushnick, PE, Inc.

Steven B. Kushnick, PE, Inc. provides turbomachinery expertise for turbine engines, pumps, compressors, expanders, diesel engines, and related equipment. We are skilled and experienced in the design, analysis, troubleshooting and failure analysis of turbomachinery and ancillary equipment. We provide independent third-party consultation, expert witness services and litigation support.

Services

Steven B. Kushnick, PE, Inc. provides:

- Failure Analysis
• Root cause determination, failure sequence, failure avoidance

- Engineering Studies and Analysis
• Process optimization, uprate, performance, and testing
• Stress, thermal, thermodynamic, rotor dynamic, vibration, fatigue
• Finite element analysis (Ansys™ FEA)

- Mechanical Design and Reverse Engineering
• Blades, vanes, nozzles, bearings, rotors, discs, gears, wheels
• Repair engineering, evaluation, and drawings
• CMM precision measuring
• Material substitution or upgrade, high temperature materials

- Expert Services
• Expert witness, expert consultant, third-party engineer
• Warranty dispute support
• Third-party overhaul and turnaround witness

Litigation Support Services

Steven B. Kushnick, PE, Inc. offers services in failure analysis, reverse engineering, and repair. Mr. Kushnick is an experienced Expert Witness in cases involving alleged stolen intellectual property, trades secrets, and company proprietary information in regard to reverse-engineered aftermarket turbine hardware and parts; and in cases where the lawyers and the court require an understanding of complex technical and engineering issues explained in simple terms understood by the layperson.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Aerospace Engineering, Forensic Engineering, Gas Turbine Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials, Materials Engineering, Metallurgy, Oil & Gas, Petroleum Engineering, Vibration Analysis.

Profile

Mr. Kushnick began his career at Pratt & Whitney in 1980, designing and analyzing jet engines for military flight service for nine years. He has since been a consulting engineer to the turbomachinery industry, especially the land-based engine sector. He started his own consulting firm in 1996. Mr. Kushnick is the inventor of two U.S. patents in the field of turbine engines.

Areas Served

All States

Steven B. Kushnick, PE, Inc. in the Social Networks

LinkedIn

Professional Experience

1980 - 1989: Pratt & Whitney, West Palm Beach, FL. Design Engineer through Design Project Engineer, Supervisor. Designed and analyzed jet engine hardware for military flight engines. Components include compressor, turbine, afterburner, combustor, bearings, bearing compartments, external plumbing, shafts, blades, vanes and nozzles.

1989 - 1996: Fern Engineering, Pocasset, MA. Senior Engineer through Project Manager. Designed and analyzed combustion turbine engine hardware for industrial power, cogen, and process industries. Analyzed steam turbine and turbocharger hardware. Rotor dynamics analysis. Low emissions combustor design. Test facility design. Expert witness and litigation support.

1996 - present: Steven B. Kushnick, P.E., Inc., Marietta, GA. Principal Engineer. Design and analyze hardware for industrial combustion turbine engines, cogeneration, steam turbines, reciprocating compressors, diesel engines, turbocompressors, gas engines, pumps, expanders, and turbochargers. Provide engineering analysis including rotor dynamics, blade vibration, failure analysis, metallurgical analysis, thermodynamic analysis, hardware assessment, overhaul witnessing. Expert witness and litigation support. Access to metallurgical laboratory.

Licenses

Registered Professional Engineer. Licensed in the States of Georgia #23625, Alabama #34214, Alaska #11369, California #M028670, Florida #35560, Illinois #062061018, Massachusetts #35135, and Washington #37219.

Legal Experience & Services

Expert witness, expert consultant, in the field of engineering; especially with regard to turbomachinery and ancillary equipment. Includes reciprocating compressors and diesel engines, low emissions combustion systems, gas plant compressors, flight engines, root cause failure analysis and failure assessment.

Affiliations

ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASM International - American Society for Metals International
SAE - Society of Automotive Engineers
NSPE - National Society of Professional Engineers

Qualifications

Skilled and experienced in the design, analysis, troubleshooting and failure analysis of turbomachinery and ancillary equipment. Design turbine hardware, compressor hardware, combustors, fuel nozzles, fluid film bearings, rolling element bearings, oil-film dampers, lube systems, plumbing, heat transfer equipment, and test equipment. Analyze internal flow, heat transfer, structures and strength, dynamics and vibration, fatigue and fracture, equipment failures and test results. Use ANSYS finite element analysis code, CAD software, and develop specialized computer utility programs for design, analysis, and problem solving. Procure hardware. Provide economic and engineering analyses of proposed equipment modifications. Provide inspection procedures, repair procedures, and process specifications. Provide independent third-party consultation and litigation support. Access to metallurgical laboratory. Two patents in the field of jet engines. Expert witness.

Awards & Honors

Graduated Boston University, cum laude
Two patents in the field of turbine engines

Seminars & Training

ASM continuing education courses:
Principles of Failure Analysis
Corrosion
Stainless Steels
Titanium
Principles of Metallography

ASME continuing education course: Rotor dynamics of Turbomachinery

Publications

Presentations given to the Allison Turbine Users Association:
2003: Hot Section Life, Base Load, Peak Load, and with Inlet Chilling
2002: Engineering Open Forum, An Explanation of Turbine Engine Design and Analysis
1999: Hardware Assessment and Failure Analysis, Broken Hardware Tells a Story
1998: Data Analysis: Troubleshooting Turbines and Compressors
1996: Gas Turbine Firing Temperature Optimization for Maximum Net Revenue

Professional References

Available upon request. The list will be tailored to the specific issues of the case.

Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Boston University College of Engineering, 1980, cum laude.